Detachable wardrobe fitting for hand luggage



Sept. 4, 1945. P. E. NICHOLAS 2,334,332

DETACHABLE WARDROBE FI TTING FOR HAND LUGGAGE Filed March 20, 1943 2 Shets-Sheet 1 M v 8 INVENTOR .40 4 J 1 Paul L. Malia/as A TTORNEY Sept. 4, 1945. P. NICHOLAS DETAGHABLE WARDROBE'EITTING .FOR HAND LUGGAGE I Filed March 20, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Pau/ E. Nickolas.

I A'TTORNEY Patented Sept. 4, 1945 UNITED STATES DETACHABLE WARDROBE FITTING FOR HAND LUGGAGE Paul E. Nicholas, St. Joseph, Mo. Application March 20, 1943, Serial No. 479,862 4 Claims. (01. zzs -ss) This invention relates to improvements in luggage fittings and more particularly to the provision of a detachable wardrobe fitting for luggage, the principal objects of the invention being to provide a removable, inexpensive, lightweight fitting for hand luggage of attractive appearance and capable of carrying garments and the like in neatly folded and supported condition for maintaining the garments in a tidy state while packed.

Many attempts have been made to construct wardrobe luggage capable of carrying garments such as ladies dresses without wrinkling and still maintain the luggage at a minimum size and weight whereby it may be carried easily by a traveler. Light weight in such devices has been obtained by using thin metal sections, but such complicated fittings and fastening devices have been used to hold the metal pieces in place and provide sufiicient rigidity in the metal sections to support the garments that the ordinary or infrequent traveler has a great deal of difiiculty in packing the garments in the case.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a luggage fitting which may be easily removed from the case and hung in outstretched condition in a closet or the like when the destination is reached in such a manner that the garments may remain in the fitting and hang free during the stay at said destination; to provide a wardrobe fitting that is simple to pack; to provide for eliminating creases or the like in the folded garments supported in the luggage fitting; to provide a luggage fitting that is not subject to rust or the like; to provide a rigid garment supporting member in the fitting; to provide for substantially enclosing the garment in the fitting; to provide devices for holding the fitting in place in the luggage case; to provide a fitting capable of supporting the ends of longer garments such as dresses and coats; to provide a detachable fitting which is attractive, durable, versatile, efficient and of large capacity, yet economical to manufacture; and to provide improved parts and arrangement of parts in the structure of a fitting of this character.

' In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a detachable wardrobe fitting embodying my invention mounted in a luggage case. r

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the luggage and fitting on the line 2-2, Fig.

condition, the fixtures therefore being shown in spaced relation.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the fitting in packed and partially folded condition for insertion in a luggage case.

Fig. 6 is a detail fragmentary transverse sectional view through the fitting particularly showing the mounting of the garment hanger post and retainer.

Fig. '7 is a detail fragmentary section showing the adjustable mounting ofthe bar at the fold of the fitting.

Fig. 8 is a detail fragmentarysection through the joint between the members ofthe fitting at the fold thereof. v

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a hand luggage case consisting of a main section 2 havinga cover 3 hingedly connected thereto along one marginal edge as at 4, the cover section being adapted to receive a removable wardrobe fitting 5 embodying my invention. As is customary, the luggage case is provided with a conventional handle 6, mating locking devices I and 8 and a flexible connecting member 9 to prevent the cover from opening an excessive amount and for holding the cover in an upright position when the case is open, the interior of the main section of the case is preferably provided with fabric pockets l0 preferably having an elastic ll adjacent the upper edges thereof to hold the pocket in normally closed condition. This luggage case structureis of conventional design and forms no part of my invention except as to modifications to receive my particular fitting, as will be later described.

The wardrobe fitting 5'preferably consists of complementary sections I2 and' l3 forming the top and bottom sections of the fitting when the same is outstretched. The intermediate edges of the sections are connected to 'a base section [4 by hinge connections l5 and I6 preferably formed of suitable fabric facing or covering material I1. The sections l2, l3 and [4 are preferably formed of a light weight fiber board or the like capable of providing suitable stiffness to support the garment in the luggage case. Centrally located adjacent the upper end of the section l2 and projecting inwardly therefrom is a. hanger post l8 preferably formed ofwood, and of suitable size to extend through openings 20 of hangers 2i having conventional shoulder portions 22 to support a garment, such as a dress, coat or the like on the hanger post. The post is secured to the section |2 by means of a rivet 23 or the like extending therethrough. The post I8 is also preferably recessed as at 24 or its upper portion to provide a shoulder 25 tending to hold the hangers on the post. Additional retaining means are provided to positively hold the hangers in place which preferably consist of a leather strap 26 secured by the rivet 23 between the post l8 and the section I2. The strap 26 is preferably provided with a snap fastener member 21 adapted to engage a mating snap fastener member 28 on the end of the post l8.

On the outer surface of the member l2, and

held in place by the rivet 23, is a hanger member 29 preferably of leather or the like provided with an opening 30 by which the wardrobe member may behung in a closet or the like when not in use. 3

Attached to the base member |4 adjacent each end thereof are strap members 3| and 32 provided with snap fastener members 33 and 34 adapted to engage snap fastener members 35 in the ends of a preferably round bar 36 preferably formed of wood and which, when engaged by the snapimembers in the straps contacts the outermost garment at the fold line of the wardrobe fitting to hold the same in place. The outer end of the section |3 extends into a groove 31 of a round member 38 over which the outer ends of the garment are adapted to be folded.

In order to hold the wardrobe fitting in the case metal fingers 39 may be placed on the interior of the wall 40 mounting the hinges 4 for the case and; the wardrobe fitting is provided with reinforcements 4| preferably of raw-hide leather adjacent the base member l4 adapted to engage the metal fingers when the wardrobe is in the luggage case. The opposite or top portion 42 of the covermember i preferably provided with flexible straps 43 having snap fastener members 44 adapted to engage mating fastener members 45 on theexterior of the fitting section |2 to hold the fitting in the cover.

The exterior of the member |2 may be provided with a pocket 46 secured to the section by stitchmen and preferably provided with elastic 48 adjacent the top 43 thereof to maintain the pocket in'relatively closed condition.

In using the fitting and arranging for packing a garment therein, the preferred method is to release the snap fasteners 44 and 45, remove the fitting from the case and hang said fitting on a hook or other suitable hanger by means of the strap 29. The rod 36 is then released from at least one ofthe straps 3| and 32 and the snap fastener members 21 and 29 are released to allow removal of the hangers 2| from the post I8. The garments 49 which the traveler desires to pack are then placed on the hangers in a conventional manner and said hangers are placed on the post l8 by inserting same through the opening 20 to allow the garment tohang freely thereon. When the garments are hanging in this extended condition, they may be suitably arranged to eliminate undesirable creases. The rod' 36is then placed on the fasteners 33 or 34 of the straps 3| and 32. depending upon the numher and thicknesses of the garments in the fitting. f

The section I3 is then raised, as shown in Fig. 5 with the ends 50 of the garments extending over the round surface of the bar 38 in proper folded condition to eliminate any undesirable folds. When the section l3 overlies the section l2 or is parallel therewith, the strap 29 is removed from the hanger supporting the fitting and the entire assembly is placed in the cover 3 of the luggage case with the section |3 adjacent the interior of the cover, whereby the end 50 of the garment is arranged between the interior 5| of the cover and the section l3. The raw-hide reinforcements 4| are engaged by the metal fingers 39 to hold the bottom portion of the wardrobe fitting in place. The snap fastener members 44 of the straps 43 are then engaged with the snap members 45 to hold the uppermost portion of section |2 in place, the member 29 folding back into the interior of the case.

With this arrangement it may be readily seen that the section l2 substantially closes the cover portion of the case to enclose the garment packed in the wardrobe fitting, thereby preventing the garment from coming in contact with other articles packed in the main section of the case and also tending to keep dust from contacting the garments.

When the destination of the traveler is reached the straps 43 are released fromthe fasteners 45, and by grasping the strap 29 the entire fitting may be withdrawn from the cover 3 and placed on a suitable hanger whereby the garment may hang free during the traveler's stay at the destination. If desired, the bar 36 may be released from one of the straps 3| or 32 to allow the garments to hang in the same manner as they would in a'conventional closet or the like in such a manner that no creases will be formed in the garments.

It is also to be noted that the folded portions of the garment extend around the round members 33 and 38, thereby eliminating any sharp fold edges or unsightly creases therein.

From the foregoing description it will be readily apparent that the improved luggage case and detachable fitting therefor are adapted to efliciently confine wearing apparel, and that uch luggage. and the fitting therefor are of light weight and easily handled and packed by inexperienced or ordinary travelers. All sections of the luggage are readily accessible and of large capacity yet attractive and durable, as well as economical to manufacture.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In ahand luggage case, a removable wardrobe fitting comprising foldably related front,

. bottom and back walls, the walls being extendable to form a continuous sectional sheet of relatively stiff material of the same width throughout the length of said fitting, at least one hanger for supporting the shoulder portions of garments, a hanger post on the inside of the front wall for removably supporting the hanger, flexible means on the front wall and engageable with the end of the hanger post for retaining said hanger on the post, a rod, means on the bottom wall engageable with the ends of said rod for forming a fold. member for the garments and holding the garments adjacent said bottom wall, means on the upper end of the back wall for supporting the ends of the garments in drape condition without creasing, and means on the outside of the front wall adjacent the upper end thereof for hanging the entire fitting and garments therein in fully opened outspread condition.

overlying front and back walls, an intermediate panel having opposite edges hingedly connected to the lower edges of the overlying panels, a hanger for supporting the shoulder portions of garments, a hanger post on the inside of one of the overlying panels for supporting the hanger, adjustable means adjacent the intermediate panel for holding the garments in the fitting, a rod on the upper end of the back wall for supporting the end of the garments in draped condition, and. means on the outside of the front wall adjacent the upper ends thereof for hanging the fitting and garments therein in outstretched condition.

3. In a unitary luggage fitting, overlying front and back panels, an intermediate panel having opposite edges hingedly connected to the lower edges of the overlying panels, a hanger for supporting portions of garments, a hanger post on the inside of the front panel for supporting the hanger, means adjacent the intermediate panel for holding the garments in the fitting, and.

means on the end of the back panel remote from the intermediate panel for supporting the ends of the garments in draped condition without creasing.

4. In a luggage fitting, overlying front and back panels, an intermediate panel having opposite edges hingedly connected to the lower edges of the overlying panels, a hanger for supporting the shoulder portion of garments, a post for supporting the hange on the inside of the front panel, a strap on the front wall and engageable with the end of the hanger post for retaining said h'anger on the post, a rod, mean on the intermediate panel engageable with the ends of said rod for forming a fold member for the garments holding the garments adjacent the bottom of the intermediate panel, a rod having a slot therein engageable with the upper end of the back wall for supporting the ends of the garments in draped condition without creasing, and means on the outside of the front Wall adjacent the upper end thereof for hanging the entire fitting and garments therein in fully outstretched condition.

PAUL E. NICHOLAS. 

